How to use one paper towel | Joe Smith | TEDxConcordiaUPortland

R. P. Joe Smith served as a District Attorney in Umatilla County and nearly won a race for Oregon Attorney General without taking a single contribution over $99.99. He is a former chair of the Oregon Democratic Party and is active with several local nonprofits.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@1chancellor1]

People were applauding this man for drying his hands. Beautiful.

[@andrewdoesyt7787]

5 year old comment, the most liked comment on the video, no reply’s… KZbin’s weird.

[@1chancellor1]

@@andrewdoesyt7787 weird indeed

[@1chancellor1]

@@sc156hi precisely

[@ZenoZaneZedd]

Just watched an old man wash his hand for 4 minutes.

[@DarkGamer641]

Your profile picture is awesome it's gamzee from homestuck

[@tiannapaige7666]

Zane enaZ wow at first I didn't know what I was watching but found out it was a man washing his hands What am I doing with my life

[@Nerdvillette]

Zane enaZ lol

[@mitchelly5324]

Zane enaZ what’s new?

[@Quabopem]

TEDx in a nutshell

[@corey1845]

There are all these super high level ted talks about psychology, economics and whatnot out there from the most successful people out there and yet, after all these years, this is the only ted talk i think of EVERY TIME i dry my hands with one paper towel after shaking my hands dry 12 times. I have been doing this for so many years now. Cheers to this guy.

[@missjoey]

SAME HERE

[@Sclunger]

yup

[@sultanhusnoo8552]

Hahahahaha yeah right? 😂😂 me too whenever i wash hands at a public restroom i actually count up to twelve and take one sheet and fold it😂😂 and i always say the words inside my head "shake and fold"

[@buzzbuzzduar]

Today, a stranger took 5 paper towels after washing his hands in a restaurant. Not two or three but five. I was right behind him and I feel an inexplicable annoyance. That brings me back to this video. I just realized that I have always use only one paper towel, thank you old man.

[@LukeJosiah]

I do the same after a shower. I shake 12 times and wipe the excess water off before I dry. I have saved 12 billion pounds of paper towels haha

[@jdw-fs8wt]

It allows intershtersteshielal suspension

[@SourceFedMan]

yes!

[@NyuAtreides]

+braves6036 yesh

[@shoegum7362]

+braves6036 2:31

[@1Yooter]

+braves6036 Intertesticular suspension*

[@mongergrace]

interstitial suspension

[@tconline2000]

I remember watching this and coming away thinking "This was a TED talk?" Now, a couple years later, I have to admit I use his 'technique' every work day, using probably half as many paper towels as I used to. Sometimes the simple things are the biggest ideas.

[@AlisonWarren]

tconline2000 No joke, I had the same *exact* experience!!! EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. I am literally on this video right now bc I just did it again & it made me want to share it on fb, given the current coronavirus outbreak + constant hand-washing. I even still use 12 shakes bc I guess I thought it meant something 😂 ...although it DOES get the job done lol

[@randomcommentor]

You can feel in his voice, that he has lived all his life to tell us this wisdom

[@funfreakersslrk7954]

Lol 😑

[@iarebrown]

He'll be happy to hear that 10% of people simply don't wash their hands. Zero paper towels!

[@danbo967]

Based on what I have seen thus far in my life, I would bump that number to 50%. The most disgusting thing is that they go out and proceed to touch the face of their Girlfriend/Wife, children, etc.

[@Melanie-vx2zl]

Not anymore!!

[@yespapa8102]

Melanie no I still don’t wash my hands

[@xdtimetoaster3184]

@@yespapa8102 same lmao

[@JesusFan]

12 times... I've been doing 11, no wonder...

[@tiberiu_nicolae]

I accidentally went to 13 and now my hands are wet again

[@Bobymcswager]

how you type this genius.

[@Bobymcswager]

Ohhh makes sense sorry lukas

[@adonismoy721]

S. H. A. K. E

[@nighthoodlupin3500]

11!? That's too many syllables man!

[@UnitaryV]

For toilet paper: 1. Twerk 2. Fold

[@carrieandraya]

NICE!!! LOVE IT

[@jameihobadehre]

Maybe you won't ever see this comment but you sir made my day

[@vascoalmeida2265]

@@jameihobadehre same haha

[@DragoNate]

Way ahead a' ya!

[@qmarq]

its been 4 years since this comment has been made and it has changed my life. thank you

[@2QuestionsTV]

The first time I watched this video, I thought, "I can't believe I'm watching this." Then I washed my hands and all I could think of was this video. Five years later, I've shared it with tons of friends and clients, and I don't think I've washed my hands without thinking of this video since. This is a fantastic video.

[@aran-uq8ik]

Do you shake your hands 12 Times every time?

[@elmohead]

I use my shirt to dry my hands, then step outside. My shirt then dries in 2 seconds because I live in Australia.

[@luker4101]

elmohead this made me die inside because of how relatable it is

[@misterk4999]

Until a giant spider eats you because you live in Australia :-P

[@JAnx01]

@@luker4101 This made me come to life inside because of how relatable it is.

[@yespapa8102]

I don’t even wash my hands

[@hoppinghobbit9797]

there's no need to dry your hands with your shirt. it will dry itself.

[@impossabear4096]

this video changed my life

[@itsmesia2469]

Haha....! Hardly...

[@nutsackmania]

god bless

[@MeganAnimalLover]

You are so funny :-)

[@taewoolee1517]

Do you work in paper company? XD

[@IZRRL]

Most useful talk I've seen on TEDx so far. :D

[@dudartz83]

+iz Zz tell me you're joking.

+iz Zz Hey, there was one more talk - that one about tying your shoelaces, it was also marvelous.

[@IZRRL]

Martin Bodlák Nothing like the talk on how to stop talking out your ass though.

[@Thecyclingeconomicsdoc]

I've never tied my shoes the same way since!

[@subeterranean2000]

Poop

[@flourbvoy1269]

I have actually do this every single time since I watched this video. And it's been years. Thank you, Joe Smith.

[@rachaelauer6092]

This is the only Ted talk that has literally changed my way of life

[@KevinJantunen]

This, honestly, is the most memorable Ted Talk I have listened to and the one which lessons I always apply to my day-to-day life.

[@beautifulmind4935]

I saw this video years ago and I literally always think about it when I’m in a public restroom now. Pretty awesome, this guy must have made some kind of impact as I’m surely not the only one!

[@sunnyzhu9487]

Me too

[@MichelleOsorio]

Same here!

[@milsumla]

this is the person who really sets out to make the changes he can for the better of society

[@datiny0ne]

Saw this about a year ago.. ever since then, I do the shake and fold... it works.. it's amazing! I pass it on to everyone I know!

[@suhani2063]

who comes after science and fun❤

[@willCaboutThat]

I think I just spent 4 minutes watching a guy dry his hands. It is amazing the lengths you will go to put off doing homework.

[@chrisdawson1776]

Still done with your homework yet?

[@thhndy]

this was my actual homework lol

[@jmr1068204]

What has my life become...it is my off day from work, I spent my day cleaning and now I'm taking a rest break watching youtube. Except for I'm watching a guy wet his hands and dry it with a paper towel over and over. :-\

[@nigragigra5207]

jmr1068204 I was expecting a comment like this before I scrolled down lol, I'm wondering the same thing

[@remcoschut9719]

+Nigra Gigra O2 Pol www.bol

[@mr._zone]

jmr1068204 this may be the most thoughtful and accurate comment i've ever read.

[@cat5220]

*SHAKE! FOLD!*

[@spoomks]

s h a k e f o l d

[@airboy1021]

Thanks, Hank and John!

[@skylerwitherspoon]

+

[@jacksonthesyndicalist2771]

+

[@jacksonthesyndicalist2771]

HEYEYYYEYEYEYE BOYOYOYOYOYOYYOYO

[@itzameylin8133]

Matteo Mcdonnell +

[@SomeNiceMovies]

Link?

[@nickb4581]

"it's smart enough to stop... and you get half a towel." This guy is awesome.

[@notttom]

I started watching this thinking he was talking about pooping... I sat thinking, "How does one SHAKE"

[@jprice_]

+notttom like a Polaroid picture

[@notttom]

You have opened my eyes to OutKast lyrics!

[@lovingkokichi4159]

+notttom There's something called "twerking." Could come in handy when one needs to "shake" while pooping

[@still2weirdfoU]

+notttom when like a piece doesnt pinch off all the way i guess

[@notttom]

+Lyle Lyle the Crocodile that's Mr Hankey the Christmas poo, small and brown, he comes from you!

[@Manx123]

You could avoid using any paper towels by just wiping your hands on your shirt.

[@prostatepulverizor1927]

lyfe hax

[@IslanderJerYT]

I use my jeans.. its cold here and i'd rather my shirt not be wet! :) zero paper towels, zero emissions from electric hand dryers, clean, dry hands!

[@Manx123]

***** Because I'm a slob, I sometimes wipe my hands on my shirt, specifically, my chest, and then I walk out in public looking as if someone had groped me.

[@dangerousfox123]

What if your hands are covered in semen and the blood of a small child?

[@Manx123]

Dangerousfox From experience, I know that washes right out, but that should be obvious.

[@gyozagumball]

"Shake. Fold." *The two most important words I've learned to dry my hands*

[@Tmantman125]

This is no doubt the most useful thing I have ever seen on youtube

[@vrillco]

I wish he'd have taken a moment to explain the "interstitial" property for the non-sciencey types. The idea is simply to use the air trapped between the two sheets to help dissipate moisture, as well as insulating so that you're not wetting one hand while drying the other.

[@D_A_M-091]

Intersterstitial* Hello from the future

[@D_A_M-091]

@@sc156hi hello from the past!

[@pikkuadi]

Saw this video when it came out. Ever since used only 1 paper towel. Everyone's efforts are needed to save our planet from a catastrophe.

[@israelruiz7019]

treebeard saving paper, trees, or the ozone layers will not save the world if in the near future a meteorite is going to strike the world and destroy a 1/3 of its population. Read the truth and what is to come in the kjv bible. The meteorite is the catastrophe the Gov. is anticipating on to bring the one world gOV. together smh.

[@battleDON100]

Israel Ruiz but if we keep going like this, we will die even before the meteor arives ^^ there are other reasons to the extinction of the human race and every living thing on the planet then just a meteor. So, lets fight to live longer.

[@neilthesupplier]

treebeard www.yahoo.com/health/is-the-food-thats-good-for-you-good-for-the-115792683917.html healthy foods is hurting America. WTH

[@jimbolic0809]

treebeard I really don't understand why even ONE paper towel is needed... Wash your hand, shake, then walk out.

[@neilthesupplier]

i use my shirt. especially when it's hot out.

[@katiekawaii]

It's a special kind of genius to rethink something we take for granted so completely, like drying our hands with a paper towel, and yet these little innovations have such monumental impacts.

[@wushish]

I love how he tackles the big issues

[@maxschulz7110]

I admire this talk so much, it has been... i dont know, maybe 4 years from the first time that i saw it, and every time that i am in a public space washing my hands, i think about this talk...

[@rheller_82]

Still one of the best things I've heard years later. If it effected others like it did me then I'm sure it helped tons.

[@Jazz202020]

Now when I go to Walmart, ima look at people crazy when they take 2 or 3 paper towels lol.

[@rotcod2886]

I'm confused. At 3:38 there were eleven shakes. What happened to the twelfth? Maybe we can save the world if we all cut down one shake.

[@addol95]

i'm glad i wasn't the only one noticing this.

[@joshuaandree4310]

11 is a prime number.... it's probably alright.

[@poplol77]

Dude, now every time I use fucking paper towels it's liking learning to ride a two wheeled bike. I can't stop doing it. It's like part of my life!

[@Matt_Rose]

If I’d been rehearsing this big presentation for ages and then walked on stage and instantly said the wrong figure, I’d personally have burst into tears and simply walked off.

[@DC-YumpyYotemeal_4026]

Hi Matt, I've been subscribed forever now and I watched this video from my communications class in college, it was so weird seeing your comment with 3 likes lol

[@lanpham13]

Thank you, Hank and John! I'm studying to a be a nurse so I'll be constantly hand washing in the clinical area so this is a great idea!

[@BobHansler]

Think I will let this play for each of my classes this week.

[@couldntthinkofayoutubename6498]

Lol i like these kinds of ted talks, something completely random, but somehow entertaining at the same time

[@Leander_]

The TEDx talk that I think back to the most.

[@heathertoomey7068]

Loved it! When I saw the title, I thought, "Oh, cool. I don't know how to do that!" Goes to show how small things can make HUGE impacts.

[@karljohnson92]

This is actually incredibly useful to me because where I work I wash my hands up to 20 times a shift and I always use like 3 or 4 paper towels every time.

[@LornaMcNamara]

Interesting. This has been my practice for years. I am always amazed that folks take more than one towel to dry their hands when one is plenty. (Yes, I shake and fold.)

[@boomarangman]

Great guy! He knows everything about how to make people remeber his talk :D Enjoyed it

[@nikitamenezesgama2648]

So many of you commenting below here just do not understand the implications and importance of what this video contains. I'm so glad it's made. I have actually been practicing this every day even before I stumbled upon this video.

[@jackquick8362]

Simple and to the point. I like it.

[@TooTrue2]

Some times I'll throw away a couple dozen and not even wash my hands...

[@caudex9610]

sorry gonna have to report you for that one

[@Red-wb2ey]

*JOE SMITH WANTS TO KNOW YOUR LOCATION*

[@lovercity28]

My public speaking teacher showed me this when it first came out and it was so fun to watch. Now I’m watching it a couple of years later and I just wanted to pop in to say that if you REALLY want to be more eco friendly, bring your own little hand towel! Shake, towel!

[@aran-uq8ik]

And do you shake your hands 12 Times?

[@josegadea6335]

Very interesting and useful information. Our way of thinking can be changed by this talk. Congratulations!

[@21rasko]

Coincidentally this is also my poker strategy

[@CaptainXD]

Oooooorrrrrrrrr.... you could just shake like 120 times and not have to use any paper towels at all -_-

[@Eric-td4bh]

Lmao tru

[@TABBYMUSIC]

CaptainXD *_H M M_*

[@7sterling]

The only TED talk that really did anything.

[@ElectricSoul94]

10 years later and I still think of this video whenever I dry my hands

[@fernandorubio3444]

was anyone else thinking that he is wasting paper towels in the making of this video

[@umairhtx]

yes

[@user-sd1rn5dj2m]

I just saw it and I think that too

[@michaelstewart95]

he's saving 571230000 pounds of paper a year though 😛

[@heavenbeetle-6895]

I was just thinking that. Although, if the audience follows through with the lesson then it will be totally worth it

[@MNRMNmixes]

its called sacrifice

[@tikunhiplaaja631]

" Because it allows intersteshcchiaal.....suspension"

[@bobbymak8426]

interstitial suspension

[@GameNOWRoom]

No joke that is the TEDx Talk that has the most influence on my daily life.

[@craigbikes8831]

I actually do remember this and have been doing it for the past 11 years

[@PlasmaMongoose]

This is just one of the reasons why I always carry a towel in my bag, seriously just about everything you do in your daily life can benefit from having access to a towel.

[@213phattown]

this is how I clean my shity ass too!

[@Jazz202020]

*crying laughing*

[@SooziinCa]

So eloquently put! LOL!

[@RetroMaticGamer]

Twerking has a purpose after all... w00t!

[@jeffwest9571]

John Redmond wow, it's awesome that i'm not the only one to think that. i just literally posted a comment and scrolled down to see yours. good stuff.

[@Hamppzah]

HAHAHA

[@MrLiveWest]

the world needed this man

[@SanityMachine]

The only TED talk I use everyday

[@meatyleaf1836]

cut it in half over and over again. then you have infinity paper towels

[@Azurath100]

infinity is a tiny fraction of what's actually there...1/2 - 1/4 - 1/8 - 1/16 - 1/32 - 1/64 - 1/128 - 1/256 - 1/512 - 1/1024 - 1/2048 - 1/4096 - 1/8192...

[@meatyleaf1836]

Azurath100 but even though it gets infinitely smaller, you can still get infinity paper towel slices. So possibly it could be possible

[@442277100]

Si Random shut up nerd

[@realtissaye]

Yeah it would actually turn into an atom. If its not an atom then its not a physical thing anymore, so the atom is the smallest it can go. Therefore: Not infinite.

[@justsomeone7883]

Meatyleaf That is impossible, infinite has no end.

[@richzzhou9426]

Something called a cloth towel which you can use 5000 times

[@someone5801]

Richz Zhou This is talking about public restrooms, where no such things are implemented.

[@richzzhou9426]

Manard at a university close by they have resuable cloth towels. Ill explain it. The cloth towels are dispensed to you. The whole process is a barell. The bit you used goes insode so nobody uses it again and always fesh dispenses it. After they washt the towels so it can be reused.

[@someone5801]

Richz Zhou Some places cannot afford to implement such things effectively. Nor am I sure if I would count a University's toilets as a public restroom. They're a little more refined than that. Besides, one could argue that using one paper towel per person is less of an impact than the resources used to wash/replace the cloth every day.

[@richzzhou9426]

Manard not really cos it only takes a bit of water and soap. But think of long term costs tho. Like how an yyears. Eventually t is cheaper to wash than replace

[@someone5801]

Not necessarily. That also begs the question about what goes into making the towels, and the detergent, and the electricity used to power the washing machines, and the people you pay to collect and wash the towels.

[@ClickToPreview]

This TedX message has stuck with me. Great job Joe!

[@watertower1]

Hands down best ted talk.

[@HospitalMusic]

I shaked and baked, I think I did it wrong.

[@iseethatyouaretakingtimeou4405]

Join us tomorrow when we show you how to tie your shoes in 9 seconds rather than 16.

[@skinnydude4521]

I hate your username, so i wrote you this comment, and i'm sure you will read. stick it up your ass.

[@itsmesia2469]

I like your username.... hahah ..... it is very funny username..... haha... (yes and I took time for reading your completely unnecessarily long username..... haha) Brilliant username haha..! (Y)

[@MichelleOsorio]

I’m back 10 years later and can safely say this has changed my life 😅. I can’t fathom how much paper I’ve saved doing this while watching others next to me in public restrooms pull the usual 2-3 pieces of paper. It really works!

[@aran-uq8ik]

You do it?

[@ironhead712]

this is the greatest ted of all time

[@TheActualVimple]

2:30 because it allows intertushthushtirial suspension.

[@dlwatib]

*interstitial

[@TheActualVimple]

dlwatib No shit, lol.

[@SuparSentz]

The ironic thing about this is that he used 4 1/2 towels to do this... I LOVE IT!!

[@sharonmoore167]

Air works just fine. Don't need even one paper towel. Very entertaining way to teach.

[@aran-uq8ik]

So you always use air?

[@johnnyrodriguez7689]

Gosh this reminds me of a math teacher of mine. He taught at Chemeketa Community College. He taught me this method around 2008. I'm happy this guy learned it.

[@dangerousfox123]

"Dry" *Holds up super wrinkly hands*

[@evelynw5220]

i laughed more than i thought i would

[@jeffcolorado]

Simple, and informative. Nicely done.

[@katieyossarian4344]

At my primary school we had to queue for dinner, and there was sink at the end of the line for kids to wash their hands & a teacher supervising. It was basically drilled into me from age 5 onwards to take one towel only - if you took loads, you were sent back to the end of the line for wasting paper... pretty harsh, but now I'm 25 and it's stuck.

[@aran-uq8ik]

And do you still use only 1?

[@flipwright1138]

I can't wait for the sequel.

[@scotttucker3673]

With the panic buying of toilet paper and none left in the shops - we really need his toilet paper talk!! (Corona Virus)

[@chaoticzaros8077]

anyone else come here from Golden freddy Game theory?

[@clearlyc0nfus3d19]

Had to see it for myself

[@thatguy1000001]

So.. many.. mnemonics.. I love it! I WILL remember this every time I grab a paper towel.

[@housevil2]

I don't shake & fold for toilet paper, but I have been using this technique since I first saw this video in 2012 shared on some blog or another. Saves time & helps keep cloth towels at home from getting musty. Of course, still best to use one of those powerful air driers instead if at all possible.

[@TheMartian11]

Wow! He's telling us to save paper by wasting it Superb! 👏👏👏👏

[@JosephWheeler14]

Legendary video. This is what youtube was made for.

[@KrisRatliff75]

I can confirm that this really works. I extend the "shake" portion to 20 (rather than 12) but I only need one paper towel to dry my hands now. It works and doesn't take any more time, but it SURE uses ALOT less paper.

[@smellymelly5095]

8 years later and this is still the fist thing I think about when I wash my hands.

[@L4NCING]

why not just drink the water off your hands you get hydrated and your hands are licked clean

[@Sertifi]

Because in most countries around the world the water is not recommended to be drank?

[@jerrytomas3136]

+Markku S if you can afford a paper towel, the water in your area should be safe to drink

[@annacarrillo6644]

+Jerry Tomas this is not true?? i live in mexico and the water isn't safe to drink, but we can definitely afford paper towels...

[@jerrytomas3136]

Anna Carrillo oh dang. sry

[@zoeaargh]

+Anna Carrillo the point of this video isn't about the individual being able to afford towels. It's about the planet not being able to afford ALL this towel production/waste.

[@EClaire.1073]

I'm not surprised this is in Portland...

[@Bkhouma]

Heeeeeeyyyyyy

[@chrisdawson1776]

LMAO

[@gamma2702]

I was already taking measures to only use one paper towel, but this is very helpful to get other people to do the same. :)

[@liamadn]

thank you, joe smith, you have forever changed my life

[@gerhardfleischer441]

Please give us subtitles ! For the people with hearing difficulties !

[@MrCogwheels]

+Gerhard Fleischer Subtitles: "SHAKE!", "FOLD!", intershtersteshielal suspension

[@BeepingSheep]

+MrCogwheels Thanks.

[@venomsquad7822]

If you go to the corner of the video there is a button that says "CC" press that and you will have subtitles.

[@ashleynsai2803]

Damn I can’t wait till he teaches us how to use 1 toilet paper 👌🏽

[@100waystodestroyacokecan8]

He’s is my grandpa and he actually does this. It’s extremely impressive

[@WonkaVator72]

I was in Nepal last year. Generally speaking, they don't use toilet paper there. They use something like a kitchen sink sprayer/spray-hose attachments, which actually works much *better* than TP. Don't tell Charmin (or any other large TP manufacturer), but if we used water to clean ourselves instead of TP, we could soon eliminate this needless waste of paper entirely.

[@eco.unlimited9505]

He's right. I will think of this every time i go to dry my hands. Outstanding! and to think, almost 900,00 views to date. That's some impressive strategic thinking.

[@DragoonXXL45]

I just use a towel, not a paper towel

[@amyamyamy17]

You carry around a towel to use in public? Wow, I admire your commitment.

[@YuuDayz]

you carry a round a whole roll of paper towel in public? Wow, I admire your commitement.

[@donaldasayers]

He's a hoopy frood.

[@MichaelThompson-zj5db]

amyamyamy17 No you fucking dumbass, he is talking about the ones you leave in the bathroom.

[@DragoonXXL45]

Jibriel Saqibuddin No you fucking dumbass, it was a joke

[@thomaswong2824]

I thought he was going to make the massive thing in the background out of one paper towel, but no he taught us how to dry our hands. I guess i got clickbaited.😂😂😂

[@suzanatalusan2100]

I love this! Thank you!

[@aran-uq8ik]

Do you use this technique now?

[@devgaming3038]

When he was shaking his hands it was really satisfying for some reason